The Department of Early Education and Care has scheduled three public hearings to receive comments and feedback regarding its adoption of Pre-School and Kindergarten Standards in the domains of Social-Emotional Development and Approaches to Play and Learning. The two meetings will be held on January 22 and January 23, 2015. If you would like to attend the meeting, please RSVP by January 16, 2015 to MaryLu Love at MaryLu.Love@umb.edu or call 617-287-5925. Copies of the draft Standards will be distributed at the meetings. Starting on January 13, 2015. Standards can be found online at http://learningstandards.wikispaces.com/PublicHearing. Written feedback can be submitted online using the survey at http://tinyurl.com/p55c3aa until January 30, 2015.

Special Board Meeting on the State of Early Education and Care in the Commonwealth

The Board of Early Education and Care will hold a special meeting on October 28th, 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Worcester Historical Museum (30 Elm Street, Worcester, MA 01609) for the sole purpose of holding a hearing for the public to provide its views on the state of early education and care, what works well and what needs improvement, and the steps we should be taking to address the challenges going forward. If you are unable to attend this meeting you are welcome to submit written public comment to commissioners.office@massmail.state.ma.us. Commissioner Tom Weber briefed the Board on the state of early education and care in Massachusetts at the EEC Board meeting held on October 14th. You are encouraged to review the State of Early Education and Care in Massachusetts file size 1MB. Read the full message from Board Chair Jay Gonzalez.

Please be advised that the New Background Record Checks, which became effective on an emergency basis on December 10, 2013, have been translated into Spanish , Portuguese , Chinese and Haitian Creole .

In addition, please be reminded that you have until close of business on Friday January 17, 2014 to submit public comment on these regulations.

At its December 10, 2013 meeting, the Board of Early Education and Care adopted amendments to the Department of Early Education and Care's (EEC) Criminal Offender and Other Background Record Checks regulations, 606 CMR 14.00. These amendments broaden the scope of the existing regulations by adding new requirements for fingerprint-based checks of national and state criminal history databases and Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) checks from the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB).

EEC will now require Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) checks and fingerprint-based national and state criminal history background checks -- in addition to the current Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Department of Children and Families (DCF) checks. These new requirements will impact EEC’s licensed and funded programs such as family child care, small/large group and school-age child care programs, residential and placement programs, adoptive and foster parents and EEC-funded caregivers. SORI and fingerprint-based checks immediately apply to all new applications filed on or after September 1, 2013. All individuals licensed or employed prior to September 1, 2013 will be required to undergo SORI and fingerprint-based checks before September 1, 2016.

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) has revised the Procedures for the Drop-Off and Pick-Up of Children by Transportation Providers, and Parent/Program Notification - 6.06 CMR 7.13 which went into effect December 12, 2011. Please be advised that the revised policy will become effective October 1, 2012.

This is a sign of future prosperity for everyone in Massachusetts

Whenever you see children interacting and learning in enriching environments, what you're really seeing is brain building in progress. The latest science shows that these early experiences actually build the architecture of the developing brain, and provide the foundation for a lifetime of learning, success and productive, responsible citizenship. Brain building is an investment in the economic prosperity of everyone in Massachusetts. EEC and the United Way have launched a joint initiative to provide more information on the science of brain building and why our future depends on it. View the public service announcement below, and visit www.brainbuildinginprogress.org to learn more.

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